After the Last Tear: Rising from the Ashes of a Broken Marriage By Cassila K

Chapter 3

Elaine decided to purge the house of her belongings, boxing up anything that was truly hers.

As she sorted through her possessions, she realized just how much of her life had revolved around Alistair.

The silver button from his Yale blazer she'd secretly saved. The leather-bound journal he'd bought for her birthday. A whole album of photographs she'd taken of him when he wasn't looking.

She opened the album, her fingers tracing the images.

The first photo showed him as a college sophomore, captured mid-jump shot during the basketball game. She's behalf on school photography team, this particular shot-the one that perfectly captured his intensity and grace,so she'd kept for herself.

The remaining pages contained stolen moments, Alistair asleep, Alistair accepting his MBA with that confident half-smile. And even... Alistair with Sophia, laughing by the fountain outside the Morgan Library.

How pathetically devoted must she have been to treasure even photos of him loving someone else?

Elaine closed the album with a decisive snap and buried it at the bottom of box before continuing her inventory.

During their three years of marriage, Alistair had given her countless gifts-all expensive jewelry in the same predictable style.

Expensive,exquisite and emotionless, all purchased by his assistant. She'd kept them pristine in their blue boxes.

Now she wouldn't need them anymore.

When she finished sorting, all that remained of her presence in the house were the furnishings.

been their marital home. From the day they'd moved in, she'd been waiting, hoping for Alistair to finally let go of Sophia and let her standing right

a few cold

deliberately weaving herself into the fabric of his life, hoping he'd grow accustomed to her presence, perhaps even dependent on

delusion that had been

soon as he returned

things? Why does everything look so empty?" he asked,

and since you've brought someone new into the house, the old furnishings are

Alistair

right—it has been a while. Vivian's pregnant, we'll need a nursery. I

the interior designers come redo the

froze momentarily, then lowered her head

efficiency. In just 24 hours, the house was transformed

of her existence was systematically erased, and

be no evidence she had ever lived

into a smirk. "I'm the one who belongs here now. Give it a few weeks and you'll be nothing but that woman Alistair used

voice behind her, Elaine turned to find Vivian leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed over her baby

of the anger that should have surged through her, Elaine wanted laugh in the woman's perfectly made-up

resembled Sophia in Alistair's twisted fantasy. That the only reason he'd let her keep the baby was to have a mini-Sophia running around the house. That in Alistair's screwed-up mind,

felt sorry for

Whatever.

turned to leave, but